October is my favorite month, and fall is my absolute favorite season. I mean, have you ever met anyone who truly despises this time of year? It’s got falling leaves, cozy blankets, and hot chocolate hot enough to soothe the soul. The best part of it all? Halloween! The catch? It can get pretty expensive. As college students, we don’t have money (or time, or motivation, or anything really) for that! So, without further ado, here’s some ways you can get spooky and enjoy the fall season on a budget.
DIY Costumes
Nothing screams “Halloween” or “fun” than making your own costume! Why spend tons of money on something you can do yourself, and have fun doing? Whether you want to be Rosie the Riveter or Minnie Mouse, all you need is a needle, thread, some fabric and a bit of creativity.
If you want to have even more fun and make an event out of it, invite some friends over and make it a girls’ night. You can pop some Halloween movies into the DVD player and help each other make really cute costumes! If you want the task to be even easier, open up your wardrobe and use clothes you already have. A red t shirt and pair of overalls will give you an easy Mario costume, and a striped scarf and red washable marker to the forehead will serve Harry Potter realness. You have everything you need: just make the most of it!
Easy Decorating
Pumpkin candles in a dimly lit room, sheets draped over furniture, and fake cobwebs strung across trees and bushes are all examples of cheap, easy, and spooky Halloween decorations! You definitely don’t need to hollow out your wallet to get decked out for the holiday.
If you can’t get your creative juices flowing, you could take a trip to your local dollar store and find inexpensive skeletons, orange and black streamers, fun candy dispensers, and so much more. Want to take it to the next level? Set up some background Halloween music to complete the eerie, haunted vibe―something that will definitely give those trick-or-treaters a scare!
Events & Get-Togethers
Sure, there’s trick-or-treating and your typical Halloween parties, but what else can you possibly do to ring in the spooky season? Here are some fall activities/things you can do to get in the mood for the holiday.
Apple/pumpkin picking
Grab a friend or two and hit the orchards for a fun day out. (Pro tip: carve the pumpkins you pick for another easy decoration!)
Halloween movie night
Get your girl gang together and cozy up with some blankets, snacks, and a whole lot of spooky films.
Corn mazes
Test your navigation skills and encounter some scarecrows along the way. (Pro tip: check to see if your town/area has any haunted corn mazes―they add a special level of scary to the spooky game!)
Bake some goodies
Whip up some apple pie, pumpkin bread, and all your other favorite sweet treats. (Pro tip: use the pumpkins and apples you pick to bake! It’s more fun and tastes even fresher.)
The activities’ list goes on and on―don’t feel limited to these ideas as there are so many more you can have fun with.
Remember, Halloween, and every other holiday, is all what you make of it. You don’t need to drain your bank account or go to extremes to have a good time, and we hope we’ve inspired you to reach your ultimate spooky with a little creativity and a lot of fun. Happy Halloween!